Formula One: Nelson Piquet Junior has been granted immunity from prosecution by the FIA after providing evidence in the 'crash-gate' scandal. The situation is akin to the spy saga of 2007, when McLaren drivers Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and reserve Pedro de la Rosa were informed by the FIA no action would be taken against them in return for providing statements relating to the case.
The evidence of double world champion Alonso, in particular, proved especially damning for McLaren as they were fined a sporting record £50million after being found guilty of being in possession of files belonging to rivals Ferrari.
Motor sport's world governing body has now decided to protect Piquet Jnr after details emerged relating to last year's Singapore Grand Prix, sparking a case they regard as more serious than the McLaren issue.
At an extraordinary hearing of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on September 21st, Renault will answer charges they conspired with Piquet Jnr to cause a deliberate crash to the advantage of Fernando Alonso, who went on to win the sport's first night race.
In a further twist today, Renault and managing director Flavio Briatore have commenced legal proceedings in France against Piquet Jnr and his father, Nelson Piquet Senior.
It concerns "the making of false allegations and a related attempt to blackmail the team into allowing Mr Piquet Jnr to drive for the remainder of the 2009 season".
FIA president Max Mosley, however, has confirmed Piquet Jnr will not face any punishment after providing the organisation with two statements.
Asked whether any promise had been made to the Brazilian for his co-operation, Mosley replied: "Yes. We have said that to him.
"I don't know exactly how it was phrased but he has been told if he tells us the truth he will not be proceeded against."
Mosley insists, even if the WMSC side with Renault, or no decision is reached due to an element of doubt, Piquet Jnr will still avoid any personal penalty.
Piquet's initial statement was yesterday leaked, to which Mosley was today asked to confirm its authenticity, responding: "I haven't seen anything which I believe to be a forgery."
Piquet has claimed he held a meeting with Briatore and director of engineering Pat Symonds prior to the race at which he was told to crash his car, which he agreed to.
Believing his career with Renault at the time was in the balance, and although no guarantees were given at that stage, Piquet Jnr felt it would enhance his prospects of retaining his seat.
There is no doubt as to the severity of the matter in Mosley's eyes, with the suggestion the punishment will match the crime if the case is proven against Renault.
"If, and it is a very big if, they are guilty, obviously it is very serious indeed," added Mosley.
"It is not really for me to say whether it is as bad as the McLaren case. That would be for the World Motor Sport Council.
"On the one side, one of the bad things about McLaren was that they did not tell the truth, so that went against them.
"But on the other hand, what is alleged to have been done here is probably more serious.
"As for any penalty, if you look at any other sport, if somebody fixes the result then it's usually taken seriously.
"Fixing is one degree worse than cheating, like if you're a cyclist and you take dope, that's cheating.
"If you bribe the other cyclists, or you get somebody to have a crash in the peloton so the yellow jersey guy crashes, that's more serious.
"Then if it puts human life at risk - whether it's the spectators, the marshals or the drivers - then it's more serious again.
"But I stress, until they put their defence in, we've got to assume they're innocent."
The 68-year-old, in his final few weeks in office after a 12-year reign, has further dismissed suggestions there is a vendetta being waged against Briatore.
"It is fundamentally implausible," added Mosley.
"Number one, we get a report from a driver. We have to investigate.
"If they (Renault) are innocent, they will have a complete answer.
"There is no point in us pursuing them if we thought they had done nothing. If it was some sort of conspiracy it would be demonstrated and we would look stupid.
"The only reason we've done it is because things have been put on the table.
"Looking at it from the other side, if we said we were ignoring it, the whole world would turn around and say, 'Formula One is not a sport, it's a business.'
"They would also say, 'because there is a big car company involved they're not going to do anything, or because Bernie (Ecclestone) is friends with Flavio and they've a football club (QPR), they're not going to do anything.'
"The world would see us as corrupt."